AFPM

The AFPM was formerly known as the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, before rebranding in 2012. Both James Mahoney and Charles Drevna have served in leadership capacities at the association. Mahoney twice served as chairman of the board of the organization, once while it was the NPRA and then again during the group’s rebranding in 2012. Drevna served as President of the AFPM.

Electric vehicles are a clear threat to gasoline, the biggest product of oil refineries, and have come in the crosshairs of the AFPM. In 2012, then-President Charles Drevna (now a senior fellow at the Institute for Energy Research), testified to Congress:

As Congress and the Administration seek ways to increase our energy security, economic security, and national security, AFPM urges policymakers to weigh the full spectrum of trade-offs. While weaning the U.S. off oil is a good talking point, artificially forcing the market to adopt expensive new technologies that rely on the fair trade practices of China could bring a new set of challenges. In the meantime, the U.S. can instead develop its own abundant supply of energy, which can increase our energy, economic and national security. The U.S. can do so without subsidies or mandates, all our industry needs is the room to do it. As we look to diversify our energy sources, we must not turn our back on petroleum-derived fuels that we will continue to depend upon for decades to come. To do so would simply disadvantage the consumer, harm our national economy and erode our energy security.”

Working with Big Corn to Defeat EVs

While AFPM has long opposed the Renewable Fuel Standard and the integration of biofuels into gasoline blends, the two industries are working together to lobby against EV incentives.

In February 2017, while on a panel with the head of the Renewable Fuels Association, Chet Thompson, president of AFPM said, “(We) think we should be working to promote the longevity of the internal combustion engine.” Thompson added that AFPM welcomes RFA and others pointing out what he described as “inequities” in the support the electric vehicle industry receives.